View Full Version : Learning to switch(link to clip)
vdubya
12-21-2008, 08:49 PM
It's not easy at 10 yo. The kid in the clip is left eye and right hand dominant. These are some of her first ever lefty swings. She isn't attacking the ball like she does from the right, and she is sitting back an awful lot, but is there hope?
I'd like to get her on a tee more, but the 'keep it fun' factor just isn't there with a tee. If it were, they would call it tee fun instead of tee work. She does like the small ball machine and hitting indoors when it's -5 degrees out :D
Since she's in fastpitch, being able to hit from the left would be a huge asset. It's so awkward early on...hoping it's not too late. Comments or suggestions appreciated!
VW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIneWgC0qGU
Mark H
12-22-2008, 09:45 AM
I don't see any reason she couldn't learn to hit from the left. I'd take a few months of study on here and Englishbey's site before I switched her. You think she's going to end up fairly fast? Not that I'd have her slap till she's good swinging away but coaches love fast kids who can hit away AND play the short game.
It's not easy at 10 yo. The kid in the clip is left eye and right hand dominant. These are some of her first ever lefty swings. She isn't attacking the ball like she does from the right, and she is sitting back an awful lot, but is there hope?
I'd like to get her on a tee more, but the 'keep it fun' factor just isn't there with a tee. If it were, they would call it tee fun instead of tee work. She does like the small ball machine and hitting indoors when it's -5 degrees out :D
Since she's in fastpitch, being able to hit from the left would be a huge asset. It's so awkward early on...hoping it's not too late. Comments or suggestions appreciated!
VW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIneWgC0qGU
!'m a switch hitter and I can help you.
1. If your son/daughter has a favorite team play a wiffle ball game in which your child has to be those hitters in the game. That way she will get work righty and lefty and it might be fun.
benz99
12-22-2008, 10:14 AM
!'m a switch hitter and I can help you.
1. If your son/daughter has a favorite team play a wiffle ball game in which your child has to be those hitters in the game. That way she will get work righty and lefty and it might be fun.
Awesome brings back a ton of memories, me & my friend did the same thing in the 70's with wiffle ball he was the cubs & i was the sox batting lefty & righty, ton of fun & i still to this day can hit lefty almosty as well as right just from all the wiffle swings
Mark H
12-22-2008, 10:49 AM
I should add that switch hitting is a baseball thing. In fastpitch, with the underhand release and the short base paths if you are going to move to the left, stay there. Take all your swings from there. When you are happy with the swing and are driving the ball, then add in the short game. College coaches LOVE a love a left sider who can both drive the ball or play the short game if the fielders move back. If you run well at all, being on the left side is a huge advantage in fp. Switch hitting, not so much. Course if you can hit for power and average from the right side against quality pitching, stay there.
As a college coach, I will not recruit a kid who can only slap lefty. She better be able to drive in runs from one side of the plate or the other. Just my opinion.....
Mark H
12-23-2008, 01:23 PM
I agree. Unless she's 2.5. Wonder what Autumn Champion was before the knee injury.
vdubya
12-23-2008, 09:10 PM
Short game? Slap? I really just want to get her driving the ball hard from the left like she does the right. Are there any on board here who analyze swing video and give pointers? She has the hand-eye to get the bat on the ball (always), but it doesn't look natural and she isn't attacking visciously from the left at all. She is enjoying the challenge. She will likely never slap b/c she isn't fast and she drives in tons of ribeyes the traditional way.
Keep the feedback coming!
Vdub
vdubya
12-23-2008, 09:12 PM
Duh, sorry, I meant to say as it relates to switching sides...
>>Are there any on board here who analyze swing video and give pointers?<<
Mark H
12-23-2008, 10:49 PM
You asked if there was hope. There is good hope and no it's not too late. Not even close. Are you now asking what she needs to do better?
Short game? Slap? I really just want to get her driving the ball hard from the left like she does the right. Are there any on board here who analyze swing video and give pointers? She has the hand-eye to get the bat on the ball (always), but it doesn't look natural and she isn't attacking visciously from the left at all. She is enjoying the challenge. She will likely never slap b/c she isn't fast and she drives in tons of ribeyes the traditional way.
Keep the feedback coming!
Vdub
Let me start by saying I'm a baseball guy.
If she drives the ball from the right side and her intent on moving to the left side is not to incorporate the short game. Then why do it? What is the advantage?
IMO the swings you are taking to try to do from the left side what she already does from the right side are wasted swings. That is time she could use to get better from the right side.
HYP
vdubya
12-24-2008, 09:37 AM
"" Are you now asking what she needs to do better?""
> What would be the best course of action? On one hand I'm hesitant to have her take a bunch of reps with mechanics that are awkward at best, thereby reinforcing bad habits through muscle memory. Yet I also feel that doing anything left handed is difficult at first and with enough swings, the awkward would go away on it's own. Judging from the clip, would you just give reps and let it happen for a few weeks before worrying about 'fixing' anything?
""If she drives the ball from the right side and her intent on moving to the left side is not to incorporate the short game. Then why do it? What is the advantage?""
>>I do feel that having her a couple of steps closer to first base when hitting would be an advantage, everything else being equal. Many believe that the bottom hand provides the power, so batting left would put her dominant arm in this role. Also, being able to switch would allow her to adjust depending on what is working for the pitcher...for example being able to turn on that bread-n-butter drop curve for a triple when the righties can't reach it.
VW
Mark H
12-24-2008, 02:27 PM
"" Are you now asking what she needs to do better?""
> What would be the best course of action?
VW
I'd take a few months of study on here and Englishbey's site before I switched her. .
This is what I would suggest you do. Ready aim fire rather than ready fire aim.
Self-toss or fungo hitting is also excellent for switch hitting. Kids seem to like throwing a ball up and hitting it-doing it lefty is VERY challenging.
The decision NOT to switch hit is even more important than the decision TO switch hit. I think potential switch hitters will take to switch hitting pretty quickly. I would only do it if a hitter has courage issues, breaking ball issues, and is a practiceaholic.